What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

Gardiner has the most affordable homes ($222k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Durham	Gardiner
People
Population	4,262Lowest	6,088Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	+2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.6±5.9Highest 5% below ME	42±3.6Lowest 6% below ME
	Durham and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.7%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1%	16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Durham and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	19.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Gardiner and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	29.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8%	4.1%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Durham and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME	$71,782±$10kLowest 4% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME	$221,600±$19kLowest 25% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,113±$191 about the ME average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,781Highest 25% above ME	$2,742Lowest 10% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	44.6%±13.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	Gardiner and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%	10.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	68.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME	1944Lowest 33 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% above ME	30 minHighest 22% above ME
Work from home	20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9%	13.9%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Durham and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#14 of 133 in ME	#36 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 05	RSU 11/MSAD 11
High school in town	None in town	Gardiner Area High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.